Mae Young WWE Women's Tournament Classic (Women's First Round)

The Official Participants

Abbey Laith (Kimber Lee) USA
-Former CHIKARA Grand Champion
Ayesha Raymond England
Bianca Belair (Bianca Blair) USA
Candice LeRae USA
Dakota Kai (Evie) New Zealand
Jazzy Gabert (Alpha Female) Germany
Kairi Sane (Kairi Hojo) Japan
Kavita Devi India
Kay Lee Ray Scotland
Lacey Evans (Lacey Estrella) USA
Marti Belle Dominican Republic
Mercedes Martinez US
Mia Yim South Korea
Miranda Salinas USA 
Piper Niven (Viper) Scotland
Princesa Sugehit Mexico
Rachel Evers (Rachel Ellering) USA
Renee Michelle USA
Reina Gonzales USA
Rhea Ripley (Demi Bennett)Australia
Sage Beckett (Andrea) USA
Santana Garrett USA
Sarah Logan (Crazy Mary Dobson) USA
Nicole Savoy USA
Serena Deeb USA
Shayna Baszler USA
Taynara Conti Brazil
Tessa Blanchard USA
Toni Storm Australia
Vanessa Bourn (Daniella Kamela) USA
Xia Li China
Zeda China

Out due to Injury
Nixon Newell Wales

Alternates
Jessica James USA
Nicole Matthews Canada
Barbi Hayden USA
Deonna Purrazzo Italy
Lei'd Tapa Tonga

Official First Round Matchups! (Predictions in Bold!)
(Left Side of the Bracket)
Jazzy Gabert (Germany) vs. Abbey Laith (USA)
Rachel Evers (USA) vs. Marti Belle (Dominican Republic)
Princesa Sugehit (Mexico) vs. Kay Lee Ray (Scotland)
Xia Li (China) vs. Mercedes Martines (USA)
Nicole Savoy (USA) vs. Reina Gonzales (USA)
Renee Michelle (USA) vs. Candice LeRae (USA)
Sarah Logan (USA) vs. Mia Yim (South Korea)
Zeda (China) vs. Shayna Baszler (USA)

(Right Side of the Bracket)
Kairi Sane (Japan) vs. Tessa Blanchard (USA)
Sage Beckett (USA) vs. Bianca Belair (USA)
Dakota Kai (New Zealand) vs. Kavita Devi (India)
Rhea Ripley (Australia) vs. Miranda Salinas (USA)
Vanessa Bourne (USA) vs. Serena Deeb (USA)
Santana Garrett (USA) vs. Piper Niven (Scotland)
Taynara Conti (Brazil) vs. Lacey Evans (USA)
Ayesha Raymond (England) vs. Toni Storm (Australia)


Episode 1
Princesa Sugehit vs. Kay Lee Ray
(Oh boy! Kay Lee Ray)
Similar to the CWC, handshake and Aww.....Kay Lee's heel.
-VERY nice Yoshi Tonic by Sugehit
-Sliding reverse STO by Ray, then well transitioned into the Koji Lock.
-Ooooh Classic rotating rolling clutch by Sugehit
-RAY win the Gory Bomb! Kickout at 2?????? WHAT?
-Ray misses with the Swanton and Sugehit finishes with a Fujiwara Armbar
(Very good opener! But there goes the perfect bracket 1 match in)

Naomi's in the crowd. Very Nice!

Serena Deeb vs. Vanessa Bourne
Oh damn, Deeb's from Fairfax. Also, the referee Jessica Carr is from Baltimore.
Sportsmanship abroad so far.
-First match in 2 years for Deeb.
-Very nice on the arm drags.
-Headbutt....and a hard one at that. A little rough on the strikes.
-Sliding headbutt into a jacknife pin, cool combo by Bourne.
-nice backdrop by Deeb, but Bourne got up too quick admittedly.
-LOVED that impact on the neckbreaker, and the ref with a solid call on the one count.
-Fireman's Carry Gutbuster setting up for a charging tackle and ATE dirt from the corner!
-Moonlight Drive by Bourne and So close!
-Samoan Drop by Bourne and another 2 count! Very good match up to this point.
-Missed standing splash
-A SPEAR that would make Roman Reigns blush by Deeb! Fantastic finish!
(Surprising that this match would actually create more excitement compared to the first match but LOVED IT! And I got it right!)

Ayyyyy Ronda Rousey and Marina Shafir(aka Mrs. Roderick Strong)!
Zeda vs. Shayna Baszler
(welp...someone's going to theoretically die)
Ooooh No handshake from Baszler.
-Geeze, no respect from Baszler whatsoever.
-Beautiful transition of submissions.
-This is a full out fight from both wrestlers. This is classic Pancrase-esque fighting.
-HOLY HEISENBERG! Suplex into Rear Naked Choke. That's American Dragon style Submission wrestling right there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OOOH the 4 Horsewomen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(This was So COOL! I'm LOVING this tournament so far and 2 for 3)

Abbey Laith vs. Jazzy Gabert
(I have a Chikara bias so Let's Go Princess KimberLee!)
Intense Handshake
-Hard strikes to lead off from Laith. That FIRE!
-THE SPLITS!!!!!
-Gabert is SCARY.... and she has an Anaconda Vice!
-transition into a rear naked sleeper.
--Those Palm strikes from Gabert!
-Short-Arm Bullhammer!
-Gabert with a Cocky pin, but it was very Jericho like.
-Oooh Very nice Spider Cross by Laith
-Enziguri...into the YES kicks by Laith
-Fantastic counter from the Canadian Back Breaker position into the armdrag by Laith
-SWANTON BOMB by Laith and 2 count! (SUCH A GOOD MATCH AND GREAT FIRST EPISODE)
-WHAT A LARIAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-ALLIGATOR CLUTCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  GAME!
WHAT A MATCH!
And what class by Gabert!

Episode 2

Xia Li vs. Mercedes Martinez
Wow...Martinez is rude!
-Man...So RUDE
-OOOOOOhhhh Very Nice Spin Kick by Li
-Man she THREW Martinez in that snapnare!
-THOSE SPIN KICKS
- NICE spinebuster by Martinez
-ROMERO Dragon Sleeper to finish it off! That was a Statement win!
No shame in losing that match, fantastic debut for Xia Li!
(Well since Kay Lee Ray is eliminated. My predictions are going to be a little different. I hope Martinez beats Sugehit)

Rachel Evers vs. Marti Belle
-Backhanded insult after initial handshake
-Psychological test by Marti. Well played.
-Marti composes herself SO much better than when she was in TNA and the Dollhouse.
-A one count is Close? That's dumb.
- Very Nice Mini Springboard rotating Leg Drop! LOL Time Out
-A little rough on the striking sequence but much better than what I've seen from both women in past matches.
-oooh Evers is Hulking up
-Mini shining wizard followed by a good senton!
-Spinebuster and jacknife pin for a 2 count by Evers (Paul Ellering and Lance Storm should be proud of this kid)
-Fisherman's Suplex into a Sit Out Spinebuster.
-Marti Belle hit the Stroke for 2 (kind of glad that it didn't finish it off)
-SMALL PACKAGE SURPRISE WIN FOR EVERS!
(YES! I GOT THAT ONE RIGHT! So far I've only missed on Kay Lee Ray/Princesa Sugehit)

Towson's Kacy Catanzaro signed with WWE NxT(COOL) as well as Shadia Bseiso from the Dubai tryouts.

Rhea Ripley vs. Miranda Salinas (this would have been Nixon Newell...sadface but let's see what's she has)
-Smart to use the hair by Salinas...but NICE dropkick by Ripley
-Nice running knee by Salinas
-SIDE HELLUVA KICK followed by Hesitation Dropkick! (LOVE SEQUENCES like that!)
-Tilt a whirl into small package by Salinas, but then hit by a Roundhouse kick by Ripley
-Release Full Nelson Slam to finish off Salinas
(Defeated my expectations so still very impressed!)

Hey! I recognize that duo! The Divas of Doom (Natalya and Beth Phoenix)
Sarah Logan vs. Mia Yim
(oh boy.....Logan's in trouble)
I'm So Happy to see Mia Yim in a WWE ring!
-Sportsmanship!!!!
-THOSE kicks! But that HEADBUTT
-That's a cool submission, it's like a variation of the Short arm Scissors.
-LOVE the sequence of kicks that ended in the Finn Balor style Pele kick
-TARANTULA!!!!!!! NICE Missile Dropkick
-Resiliency from Logan and a fantastic strike sequence from both women! Very reminiscent of Women's All Japan Joshi
-Great Cartwheel into a forward Bomaye
-Backdrop Suplex by Yim followed by a Great German Suplex
-Fantastic overhead suplex by Logan (Tenzan like)
-Double knees followed by a turnbuckle assisted Perfect Plex
-EAT DA FEET/Eat Defeat! Tribute to Gail Kim!

Phenominal back and forth at the end!

Episode 3

Ayesha Raymond vs. Toni Storm
(TONI STORM! YAY)
-Like the strikes of Raymond, but then there's the Hip Attacks of Storm
-Will say, both sides not exactly in the sportsman category
-backcracker by Storm followed by a hip attack and a nice Northern Lights
-Man....one sided crowd
-Snuck away with a rollup!

Sara Amato and Charlotte Flair in the audience!

Dakota Kai vs. Kavita Devi
Devi with the strength advantage
-Very cool quick rollup as a first bit of offense by Kai. Quite Smooth
-Not bad on the running armdrag then back to basics with the dead arm lift, really focusing on the arm
-Devi's a bit green but I'm impressed so far.
-MILITARY press slam by Devi (NICE)
-HOLY CRAP THAT WAS A HELLUVA KICK FROM AROUND THE WORLD
-A Double Stomp that would make Low Ki's voice raise a few pitches by Kai!
Probably the ugliest match so far(that's not a bad thing considering that Devi is a powerhouse), but MAN what a finish!

Hello Anoai Family, including Nia Jax

Bianca Belair vs. Sage Beckett
Intense Handshake
-Ooh Kip up from the shoulder block by Belair, but very nice elbow drop by Beckett
-Belair with a good dropkick. (A lot of the women have some nice classic dropkicks. Effectiveness over beauty.
-NICE clothesline and leg drop! The standing splash would be cooler as a frog splash from the top.
-It's very difficult to get certain holds over, that Double Chicken Wing hold being one of the hardest.
-BUBBA BOMB by Beckett (nice tribute)
-Buisaku boot by Beckett (and that was Cool from her) followed up the Harley Race (or apparently Mr. Wrestling II) knee lift
-SHE WHIPPED THE HAIR!!!!!! And a Very Nice Explosive Spear!
This one was uglier than the last, but it worked better because both were heavy hitters.

Piper Niven vs. Santana Garrett
Handshake, and a bit of intimidation there.
-Dueling chants and getting Louder. NICE
-Very Nice escapes so far by Garrett and a very nice Abdominal Stre-Crap Piper got out of that good!
-Garrett is really getting to shine, but Piper can sell!
-Very Nice Crossbody by Piper!
-I always love the cravate. It's the hipster wrestling fan's go to hold. (blame Chris Hero)
-Ooooooh Cobra Clutch Too! Oh BOY! And a RAINMAKER! :D
-in-step DDT by Garrett and the delay is a nice touch.
-EAT DA FEET!
-WHAT A SPLASH considering that beautiful back handspring elbow!
-No.....Piper isn't going to the top! WHAT A SLAP! AND a Handstand Frankensteiner..
-SUPERKICK, backhandspring Moonsault (missed)....SENTON by Niven! and the ol' MICHINOKU Driver!!!!!!

That was a FANTASTIC match with the crowd behind them the entire way! Absolutely WonderfuL!
(C'Mon Piper! Do it for Nixon!!!!! )

Episode 4

Renee Michelle (DC native and MCW alumni) vs. Candice LeRae (OH BOY!)
Wait....I thought Candice LeRae was from some Mr. Froggy's Wild Ride? oh is that in Anaheim?
-Very nice 1 hand carwheel by Michelle
-Ooh nice chain/counter wrestling with the various pins!
-Smooth Armdrag by LeRae followed by a very nice Missile Dropkick
-Michelle was hesitant after the head kick. Could have gone for the moonsault.
-Ooooh a Curtis Axel Facebuster from Michelle.
-VIOLENCE PARTY!!!!!!!!!
-Nice Superman Forearm by Michelle
-Kip up to Back Roundhouse by the DC native(very hesitant...and missed on the nice moonsault)
-MOUSTACHE RIDE!!!!!!!!!!!! Way to Tribute Joey Ryan! NICE
I loved that match but.....this was probably the most one-sided crowd so far.

Alexa Bliss in the crowd....and What's Bayley's fan doing behind Bliss??!?!?! NO
Taynara Conti vs. Lacey Evans
oh man....Flags came out...I can't root against Evans now. It's unpatriotic!
Bow from Conti after handshake offer
-Very nice Judo throw by Conti
-Oooh Nice Slingshot Kick and quick cover by Evans
-That lifting Belly to belly suplex by Conti was Very nice, almost Owen Hart like
-Tomonagi (nice naming of move by Lita! thank you for that one!)
-JUDO-esque Catatonic Side Slam by Conti! Deadlift as well!
-Rolling Back Somersault into a Neckbreaker, followed by Handstand into Bronco Buster and....CRUNCHY/JIG'N TONIC!  by the former Marine!!!!!
Ooh post match bitterness from Conti but man while that match was clunky...it was Very good as well! :D

Nicole Savoy vs. Reina Gonzales
hmm...no handshake from Gonazales....
-Gonzales is a lot bigger than I realized.
-Textbook classic hurricanrana
-Gonzales is very old school in how she moves....like an 80s wrestler
-Didn't know that Savoy was also trained by Josh Barnett
-Ayeeeee it's the Billy Goat's Curse on Savoy
-Jujigatame out of the Fireman's Carry Position! Savoy wins but seems like she got pretty injured by the Colt 45/Curse
-No Suplexes from the Queen of Suplexes....interesting.
That was pretty rough. Seemed like that match ended shorter than expected.

Kairi Sane vs. Tessa Blanchard
(KAIRI SANE! WAIFU DES!)
NAKAMURA's there! LOVE Kairi's theme!
-Sportsmanship!
-Blanchard sneaking some closed fists, but very nice floored blockbuster by Sane
-Blanchard with a neckbreaker of her own!
-OOOh Corner Codebreaker!
-WHAT A SPEAR!!!!!!!! Such Fire in this match!!!!
-Corner Sliding D! And a Fantastic Flying Forearm! Octopus Hold!
-Nice sequence of strikes by Tessa!
-CANNONBALL Senton! Fantastic Tuck position but slight miss gave enough for the kickout!
-Sliding D countered into a school girl!, then knee strike countered into AXE Kick!
-ALABAMA SLAM BY SANE!
-Sailing the Seas....MESMORIZING!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT A MATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And a Hug between the two competitors after the match with Kairi's fitting theme in the background!


Overall I was impressed with the talent that was matched up in this first round. I think considering that the WWE Universe had a better knowledge of the male performers of the CWC, the gals did a fantastic job of getting the crowd into their matchups as well as their gimmicks. There were some rough matches, like Rachel Evers vs. Marti Belle as well as Sage Beckett vs. Bianca Belair, but we also had some fantastic gems like Kairi Sane vs. Tessa Blanchard and Piper Niven vs. Santana Garrett. Kudos also to squashes by Shayna Baszler and Mercedes Martinez, as well as the matchups between Jazzy Gabert and Abbey Laith, as well as Mia Yim vs. Sarah Logan

Therefore the second round matchups are as followed:

Abbey Laith (USA) vs. Rachel Evers (USA)
Princesa Suge (Mexico) vs. Mercedes Martinez (USA)

Nicole Savoy (USA) vs. Candice LeRae (USA)
Shayna Baszler (USA) vs. Mia Yim (South Korea)

Kairi Sane (Japan) vs. Bianca Belair (USA)
Dakota Kai (New Zealand) vs. Rhea Ripley (Austrailia)

Serena Deeb (USA) vs. Piper Nevin (Scotland)
Lacey Evans (USA) vs. Toni Storm (Austrailia)